NESO opposes uranium mining in Meghalaya

Guwahati, Sep 26 (UNI) With opposition to proposed uranium mining in Meghalaya still going strong, the North East Students Organisation (NESO) today threw its support behind the protesting factions.

''The NESO is opposed to uranium mining in Meghalaya and fully supports the stand taken by the Khasi Students Union (KSU), a member organisation of the NESO,'' NESO President Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya told reporters here.

He informed that the executive meeting of the NESO yesterday had discussed the matter and decided to maintain its opposition.

''NESO demands that all natural resources of North East should be processed within the region, except for uranium. We oppose uranium mining in view of the serious health and environmental hazards,'' Dr Bhattacharyya said.

The students' group will also write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the matter, he added.

Uranium mining has been proposed in Meghalaya to meet the country's growing energy needs. The state has over 3,75,000 tonnes of deposits, said to be the best in the country, accounting for over 16 per cent of the country's total uranium ore.